Composition for and process of revivifying and preserving rubber.



UNITED STATES ALICE A. WRIGHT, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THERESILIA CORPORA- PATENT OFFICE.

TION, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

COMPOSITION FOR AND PROCESJOF REVIVIFYING AND PRESERVING RUBBER.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may/concern:

Be it known that I, ALICE A. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oakland, in the countyof Alameda, State of California, haveinvented a new and useful Composition for and Process of Revivifying andPreservin Rubber, of which the following is a speci cation in such fulland clear terms as will enable those skilled in the art to construct anduse the same.

My invention relates to the treatment of rubber articles or rubber.coated articles and has for its main object the restoration of theresiliency of the rubber and of the frictional adherence or contact ofits surface with other substances and also the preservation of therubber.

It is wellknown that rubber products are subject to hardening anddeterioration in resilient properties due to the inherent qualities ofthe rubber and to the atmospheric conditions. For these reasons rubbercoated articles, such as the platens of typewriters and similar machinesbecome hard and um yielding rendering them unfit for use.

oreover, when they lose their resiliency the outer surface becomescompact, hard and smooth, causing it to lose'its yielding frictionaladherence or gripping contact which is essential to enable the platenroll to properly feed the paper through the machine.

My invention not only revivifies the rubber,restorin its pliantqualities but it also renews the ictional gripping surface.

My process of revivifying rubber surfaces consists in subjecting thesurface to the action of a volatile solvent. carrying, in solution agummy material and admixed with a powdered abradant. The volatilesolvent which is preferably alcohol is quickly ab-,

sorbed by the pores of the rubber, which probably softens the rubberparticles in the outer layers at least and causes them to expandorswell. The alcohol serves as a carrier'for the gpmmy material which ispref-l p or erably cam gum and as the alcohol ova orates the suspendedand dissolved ingre cuts are deposited in the softened exterior.

The composition which I employ in this revivifying process preferablyconsists of twelve ounces of camphor gum'dissolved in a gallon ofalcohol to which is added four Specification of Letters Patent. Patented0 1;, 2'7, 1914 Application filed aimu 15, 1914. Serial No. 832,092.

ounces of a powdered abradant such as pumice stone. I have found inactual practwo that the specified proportions give excellent results butthese proportions may be varied considerably with a fair measure ofsuccess. The alcohol serves as the solvent and carrier for the camphorand also as a softening medium for the rubber surface to which it isapplied, causing it to swell and become pliant. The camphor gum probablyacts as a binder for the powdered abradant and also cooperates therewithin filling the expanded pores of the rubber. Furthermore the camphor andpowdered abradant which fill the surface pores cause the surface topresent a frictional contact or adherence to articles, such as sheets ofpaper, with which it comes in contact. For this reason my composition isadapted to the revivification of discarded platen rolls of typewriterswhich have become hard and unyielding and which are filled with minuteholes or pitmarked by, the constant striking of the keys. In such casesthe holes are filled by the combined camphor and powdered ingredientthereby,restoring the surface to its original unbroken, even character,and imparting a surface which effectually grips the paper and preventsany slipping.

The preparation may be applied tothe 2. The process of'revivifyingrubber surfaces which comprises subjecting said sur faces to the actionof a volatile solution of a camphor-like material admixed with apulverulent mineral material.

3. A compound adapted .to restore the resiliency and frictionaladherence of-rubber surfaces when applied thereto, comprising alcoholcontainin in solution camphor admixed with apow e'red abradant.

l. A compound for application to rubber surfaces to restore itsresiliency and pliant character and for producing a frictional contactsurface comprising substantially twelve ounces of camphor um dissolvedin a gallon of alcohol to WhllCll is added four ounces,

of pulverized pumice, Y

5.. A compound for application to rubber surfaces to restore itsresiliency anti pliant character and for producing a frictionalcontactsurface comprising a solution out a carnl me-@41 phor dissolved in avolatile solvent aolmixeol with a pulverulent mineral substance,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day ofApril, A, D. 5 1914:, in the presence of the two subscribed Witnesses,

ALICE A. WltllGl-l'l,

Witnesses: I

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